First Minister John Swinney says he won’t have the Saltire “redefined by anyone else” amid ongoing anti-immigration protests in Scotland.
In recent months, anti-immigration campaign groups have raised the national flag across Scotland as part of a UK-wide protest called “Raise the Colours”.
The raising of the flags has coincided with demonstrations against housing asylum seekers in hotels.
Stand Up To Racism have launched counterprotests at a number of events.
Police Scotland have made a number of arrests at protests in recent months.
Local authorities in Aberdeenshire and Falkirk among others have removed the flags on safety grounds, while other councils have discouraged residents from putting them up.
Council staff have allegedly faced abuse and threats when removing them.
In an interview with STV News, Swinney said: “I’ve always felt the Saltire is a flag of welcome and inclusion in Scotland and that’s how I’ve always felt about it.
“I think that’s how most people feel about it.
“I certainly think that’s how most people waving the Saltire at the Scotland game last night felt about it as well. That’s what matters to me.
“I won’t have it redefined by anyone else.”
iStockThe First Minister said the Saltire represents ‘inclusion’. iStock
When asked about those using it as part of anti-immigration movements, he added: “I don’t approve of it.
“The Saltire represents the coming together of people in Scotland.”
Asked about NHS waiting times ahead of the winter months, Swinney added: “We want to have accident emergency turnaround times much faster.
“It’s about making sure that we take all of the steps in the hospital system to make sure that can be possible by reducing delayed discharge.”
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